Microbiology Chapter 1: Intro to Microbes & Their Building Blocks

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and distinctions related to microorganisms and their role in microbiology.

Microorganisms

Tiny living organisms, also known as microbes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and others.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryotes that lack a nucleus.

Archaea

Prokaryotic organisms that often live in extreme environments.

Viruses

Non-cellular entities that must infect a host to reproduce.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts and molds.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotes that are often motile.

Algae

Photosynthetic eukaryotes commonly found in aquatic environments.

Helminths

Multicellular parasitic worms.

Prions

Infectious proteins that lack DNA or RNA.

Prokaryote

A type of cell without a nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryote

A type of cell that has a nucleus and organelles.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease in another organism.

Microbiome

All microbes living in or on the human body.

Bioremediation

The use of microbes to clean up pollutants.

Recombinant DNA technology

A method of mixing DNA from different organisms.

Pasteurization

A process developed by Louis Pasteur to kill harmful bacteria in food.

Germ theory

The theory that diseases are caused by microorganisms.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound structure in eukaryotic cells that contains DNA.

Macromolecules

Large molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.